Being a director completes me, says Seema Pahwa

MUMBAI:

Close to four decades later Seema Pahwa is still the simple, introvert Badki from the classic TV show 'Hum Log' for many, but the actor is days away from releasing her directorial debut feature 'Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi' which she says made her feel complete.

The actor, who made her debut in 1984 with the landmark television series 'Hum Log' has also become popular with younger audiences courtesy her performance in recent films like 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha', 'Bareilly Ki Barfi' and 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan'.

"As an actor, you can only do your best in what part you play, but as a director, you are completely involved in a project from start to finish. I got a feeling of being complete during the making of Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi. I felt I knew the entire canvas," she said.

'Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi' revolves around a middle-class North Indian family that comes together for 13 days to perform the tehrvi function after the head of the family (Naseeruddin Shah) passes away.

The dramedy also stars Supriya Pathak, Konkona Sen Sharma, Vinay Pathak, Vikrant Massey, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ninad Kamat and Seema Pahwa's husband, Manoj Pahwa.

Seema Pahwa, 58, said the idea for this film crossed her mind a while ago, but it wasn't until she worked on the 2014 critically-acclaimed drama 'Ankhon Dekhi' that she decided to pen it down.

Family dramas have always fascinated her as she was born in a joint family, the actor-director said.

Drawing parallels of the film with 'Hum Log', Seema Pahwa said the Doordarshan show is remembered even today as it narrated the story of a middle-class family.

"Middle-class families still exist today. Almost 80 per cent of people in India are from middle-class society. When these stories are narrated, people get attached to them," she said.

Backed by Jio Studios and Drishyam Films, the film was earlier scheduled to arrive in cinema halls on November 22 but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It is now slated to be released in theatres on January 1, 2021.

Even before her first film as a director is released, the filmmaker said she is all set to make another family-drama.

"COVID-19 has taught us the importance of family and our loved ones. It has taught us a lot about life like we don't need certain things and we can survive without them. Some people like watching family dramas," she added. (PTI)

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